WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Chris Drury (right) played three seasons with the Sabres. ©2015, Janet Schultz, Olean Times Herald
Former Buffalo Sabres co-captain Chris Drury has been elected to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, USA Hockey announced today.
Drury, 38, played three seasons in Buffalo, scoring 85 goals and 189 points in 244 games. The Sabres reached the Eastern Conference final in 2006 and 2007 before the center signed with the New York Rangers. He retired in 2011.
The Connecticut native represented Team USA at eight major international events, and won silver ... Read the full article
Cal Petersen made 87 saves in the NCAA’s longest game. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – As the game ticked toward a record length and the shot count grew higher and higher, Cal Petersen’s Notre Dame teammates joked they wanted the goalie to shatter the NCAA single-game saves mark.
“They wanted me to hit the century mark,” the Sabres prospect recalled earlier this month about his record-setting 87-save performance in the Fighting Irish’s 4-3, five-overtime loss March 6. “But they didn’t know if the scoreboard went that high.”
Petersen, ... Read the full article
Randy Cunneyworth talks Wednesday. ©2015, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
ROCHESTER – For three years, wherever Randy Cunneyworth went, he was asked the same question.
“I don’t think there was a person I came across that didn’t mention, ‘Are you going to get back into coaching or not?’” Cunneyworth recalled Wednesday after being introduced as the Rochester Americans’ new coach inside the Blue Cross War Memorial.
Cunneyworth enjoyed his player development job with the Buffalo Sabres – “I’m into whatever I’m doing,” he said – ... Read the full article
Randy Cunneyworth was Montreal’s interim coach for 50 games in 2011-12. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – As the summer dragged on and the Rochester Americans’ coaching job remained open, one name kept popping up in rumors: Randy Cunneyworth, who had coached the Sabres’ AHL affiliate for eight seasons before moving up to the NHL.
Cunneyworth appeared to be the logical choice. The 54-year-old, a noted talent developer, was already a special assistant and a player development coach with the Amerks. He’s familiar with Buffalo’s prospects and the organization.... Read the full article
Forme Sabres president Ted Black (right) sits at the team’s draft table last month with scout Jerry Forton. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – On Russ Brandon’s drive to the rink to discuss his new role as Sabres president and alternate governor, a job he was awarded Monday in addition to his gig as managing partner and president of the Buffalo Bills, he reflected back to a year ago, when the NFL club’s future here was shaky.
Back then, Brandon was focused on finding a viable owner for the Bills. Terry and Kim Pegula’s interest in the ... Read the full article
Brendan Guhle turns 18 years old Wednesday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres have signed defenseman Brendan Guhle, the 51st overall pick last month, to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Monday.
The 6-foot-1, 186-pound Guhle, the Sabres’ next pick after they drafted center Jack Eichel No. 2, will turn 18 years old Wednesday. The second-rounder had five goals, 32 points and 36 penalty minutes in 72 games last season with the Western Hockey League’s Prince Albert Raiders.
Guhle will almost ... Read the full article
Ted Black joined the Sabres in 2011. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres today named Russ Brandon team president and announced former president Ted Black and the organization had “mutually agreed to part ways.”
Brandon, the managing partner and president of the Buffalo Bills, a team also owned by Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula, will oversee all aspects of the business operations for both teams and report directly to the Pegulas.
“Since we purchased the Buffalo Bills last October, we have been highly ... Read the full article
Zenon Konopka smiles Wednesday outside the Northtown Center. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
AMHERST – In January, when the NHL lifted Zenon Konopka’s shocking 20-game performance-enhancing drug suspension, the former Buffalo Sabres center briefly went to Poland, where his father was born, to see if he could still play.
For months, Konopka, a free agent, had shut hockey out of his life. The 34-year-old instead buried himself in his ZK28 wine line and other businesses. But by the winter, he began to understand how much he missed the ... Read the full article
Jerry D’Amigo played nine games with the Sabres last season. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres re-signed winger Jerry D’Amigo, their last restricted free agent, to a one-year, two-way contract today.
D’Amigo played nine games with the Sabres last season, compiling zero points and four penalty minutes. The 24-year-old Binghamton native will likely begin next season in Rochester, where he had six goals and 19 points in 31 games with the AHL Americans in 2014-15.
The Sabres acquired D’Amigo from the Columbus Blue Jackets for forward ... Read the full article
Johan Larsson (22) battles Pittsburgh’s Ben Lovejoy for the puck April 11. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres have re-signed center Johan Larsson to a one-year, $800,000 contract, according to a Swedish newspaper report.
The Sabres now only have one unsigned restricted free agent, winger Jerry D’Amigo.
Larsson finished last season as the Sabres’ No. 1 center, scoring four goals and 14 points in his final 20 games. The 22-year-old Swede, however, struggled earlier when he played on checking lines. He scored six goals and 16 points ... Read the full article